A Note from the Desk of Our CEO

By James A. Kutsch, Jr., President & CEO, The Seeing Eye

It’s been the best 12 years of my career to serve as The Seeing Eye’s President and CEO. With me now 68 and with the 90th anniversary coming up, I have decided it’s a good time for me to plan my retirement. I will always fondly reflect upon the time I have spent working with our outstanding staff and volunteers, serving our high-achieving graduates and getting to know our generous supporters.

While I plan to remain at The Seeing Eye for most of our 90th anniversary year, including our annual Family Day event and the Seeing Eye graduate reunion, the search for The Seeing Eye’s next President and CEO needs to get started. The below note from our Board Chair, Tom Duffy, gives some more details.

Best holiday wishes to you and let’s get ready to celebrate our 90th anniversary!

Regards,

Jim

Jim Kutsch to Retire; The Seeing Eye Initiates Search for Successor

Thomas J. Duffy

Chair of the Board

December 14, 2018

James A. Kutsch, Jr., who has served as President and CEO of The Seeing Eye since 2006, has shared his desire to retire in the second half of 2019.

Jim told the Board: “On January 29, The Seeing Eye will celebrate the 90th anniversary of its founding. It’s a good time not only to look backward but to look ahead, and this is an appropriate time in my life and that of the organization for me to step down and have someone else lead The Seeing Eye to its 100th birthday and beyond.”

At yesterday’s Board meeting, the executive search firm of Isaacson, Miller formally began the search process. Jim will continue serving as President and CEO during the search process and has agreed to stay for a transition period as his successor learns the position. So, the exact date of Jim’s retirement, although expected to be late summer, will not be announced until his successor is named.

Jim, now 68, is the first graduate of the school to lead the organization. He has done an outstanding job preparing The Seeing Eye for the future. Under his 13 years of leadership, we have improved our already high standard of quality while streamlining our costs. We have made several improvements to our facilities. We continue to be the gold standard for guide dog schools, not just in North America, but across the world.

The rest of the Board of Trustees and I are confident that with Jim’s help, the transition to the next President and CEO will be a smooth one. The Board and Jim are committed to assuring that all aspects of The Seeing Eye mission will continue during the search and transition, as well as on to our 100th anniversary and beyond.